New Delhi, Feb 10 (IANS) India and Bahrain are set to boost their economic and energy ties when External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna holds talks with his counterpart from Bahrain Thursday.
Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Bin Mohamed Al Khalifa will arrive in India on a two-day visit Wednesday night.

The two sides will hold discussions on scaling up trade and investment and are expected to give an impetus to a free trade agreement between India and the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council.

Issues relating to the welfare of over 300,000 Indians living in the Gulf country will also be discussed.

During Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor’s visit to Bahrain in October last year, Bahrain expressed support for India’s UN Security Council aspirations. India reciprocated it, saying it will support the Gulf country’s bid for a non-permanent seat in the UNSC in 2026-27.

Bahrain has also agreed to support India’s candidature for a non-permanent seat in the UNSC for 2011-12.

Elections will be held in October 2010 for the five non-permanent UNSC seats for 2011-12. Asia will get only one seat. India has not been a (non-permanent) Security Council member since 1991-92. In 1996, it lost to Japan 40-142.